Written Answers Wednesday 29 September 2010

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependence dispensed by NHS Lothian in each year since 2007-08.

Shona Robison: The gross ingredient cost of acamprosate calcium (Campral EC) and disulfiram (Antabuse) used in the treatment of alcohol dependence in NHS Lothian is given in the following table. The costs shown relate to items dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors and exclude the cost of drugs dispensed to patients from hospitals or hospital-based clinics. (Gross ingredient cost is the cost of an item before any discounts are applied. It excludes adjustments and broken bulk fees.)

  

Financial Year
Gross Ingredient Cost (£)


2007-08
136,288


2008-09
142,880


2009-10
136,661


Total
415,829



  Benzodiazepines can also be used to treat withdrawal symptoms of alcohol dependence. These products can be used to treat a variety of other conditions and it is not possible to identify from prescribing data collected centrally the reason why a particular product has been prescribed.

  The reduction in the gross ingredient cost between 2008-09 and 2009-10 is due to a price change for acamprosate calcium.

  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the provision of whole-time equivalent nurse specialists is for each cancer network that is specifically working in (a) breast, (b) colorectal, (c) lung, (d) urological, (e) gynaecological, (f) upper gastrointestinal and (g) haematological cancer.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.

  However, information showing the number of clinical nurse specialists by their specialty and NHS health board at 30 September 2009 is available at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Clinical%20Nurse%20Specialists%202009a.xls &pContentDispositionType=attachment.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly diagnosed patients each nurse specialist will be responsible for on an annual basis in (a) breast, (b) colorectal, (c) lung, (d) urological, (e) gynaecological, (f) upper gastrointestinal and (g) haematological cancer.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of newly diagnosed patients each nurse specialist will be responsible for on an annual basis is not collected centrally. The number of nurse specialists in breast, colorectal, lung, urological, gynaecological, upper gastrointestinal, and haematological cancer is available and is included in the answer to question S3W-36091 on 29 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Information on the number of newly diagnosed cases of cancer, for the years  1985 to 2007, is available on the NHS Information Services Division (ISD) website under Cancer Incidence: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/183.html.

Crime

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent fire hydrants from being vandalised.

Fergus Ewing: This is a matter for individual fire and rescue services in conjunction with community planning partners, the Police and Scottish Water. The information is not held centrally.

Crime

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much water it estimates is lost each year as a result of fire hydrants being vandalised.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally by Scottish Government and it would be disproportionate to collect it. As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked the chief executive to reply to your enquiry directly.

Crime

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the cost of water lost each year as a result of fire hydrants being vandalised.

Fergus Ewing: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the chief executive to reply to your enquiry directly.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been treated for (a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction in each NHS board in each year since 2007-08.

Shona Robison: It is not possible from centrally held information to identify how many people have been treated for (a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction.

  From the Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) it is possible to provide information on the number of people receiving an initial assessment of their drug misuse care needs before entering treatment at drugs services. Table 1 shows the number of patients/clients receiving an initial assessment of their drug misuse care needs by NHS board of treatment in 2007-08 and 2008-09, the latest year for which information is currently available.

  Table 1: New Individual Patients/ Clients1 Reported to the Scottish Drugs Misuse Database by NHS Board of Treatment2: 2007-08 and 2008-093,4

  

 
2007-08R
2008-09R


Scotland
12,780
11,955


Ayrshire and Arran
953
1,098


Borders
257
294


Dumfries and Galloway
204
205


Fife
1,845
888


Forth Valley
530
563


Grampian
1,058
941


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
3,101
3,176


Highland
507
315


Lanarkshire
872
823


Lothian
2,141
2,280


Orkney
*
*


Shetland
42
45


Tayside
1,299
1,373


Western Isles
27
23


Unknown
*
*



  RRevised.

  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR25 Interim Database).

  Notes:

  1. New patient/ client is any person who, at the time of presenting, is not currently in contact with a service that provides specialist assessment of a client’s drug misuse care needs.

  2. Individuals are included once within each NHS board area but may appear in the figures for more than one health board. Therefore the sum of local area data may not equal the Scotland figure.

  3. From April 2006 the new SMR25a form was introduced. Changes to the data collection mean that figures are not directly comparable with those published from the SMR24 form i.e. prior to April 2006.

  4. General practitioner data has not been included in this analysis.

  *Indicates values that have been suppressed due to the potential risk of disclosure.

  ISD does not hold data on the number of people entering alcohol services for treatment. The Scottish Alcohol Needs Assessment research report published in August 2009 estimated that, across Scotland in 2006-07, approximately 17,000 people accessed alcohol treatment services. From acute hospital discharges it is possible to provide the number of people discharged from general acute hospitals with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence. Table 2 shows the numbers of patients discharged from general acute hospitals with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence by NHS board of treatment in 2007-08 and 2008-09, the latest year for which information is currently available.

  Table 2: General Acute Hospital1 Inpatients with a Diagnosis of Alcohol Dependence2,3 by NHS Health Board of Treatment4,5: 2007-08 and 2008-09

  

 
2007-08
2008-09


Scotland
3,665
3,790


Ayrshire and Arran
272
231


Borders
50
35


Dumfries and Galloway
60
62


Fife
162
169


Forth Valley
183
252


Grampian
382
514


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
993
949


Highland
289
341


Lanarkshire
157
187


Lothian
674
646


Orkney
55
48


Shetland
14
11


Tayside
249
245


Western Isles
130
106


National Facility
16
13



  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01)

  1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals.

  2. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of alcohol dependence may vary from hospital to hospital. Where alcohol dependence is suspected but unconfirmed it may not be recorded by the hospital.

  3. Diseases recorded using the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10). Alcohol dependence: F10.2. Up to six diagnoses are recorded. All six diagnoses have been used to identify alcohol dependence.

  4. Figures in the table only relate to those individuals who are treated as inpatients or day cases. They do not include individuals managed as outpatients or individuals attending accident and emergency who are not subsequently admitted.

  5. Individuals are included once within each NHS board area but may appear in the figures for more than one health board. Therefore the sum of local area data may not equal the Scotland figure.

Equalities

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to support organisations working across all strands of the equalities agenda, broken down by (a) organisation and (b) strand, in each of the last three years

Alex Neil: The detailed information requested has been collated, and a copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 51705).

Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance Remote Data Services has received from the Scottish Government or any of its agencies since May 2007.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government or its agencies have given no financial assistance to Remote Data Services since May 2007.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent estimate is of the annual cost to the NHS of treating long-term conditions, also expressed as a percentage of NHS annual expenditure.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent estimate is of the annual cost of hospital-based care for people with long-term conditions.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent estimate is of the annual cost of community-based care for people with long-term conditions.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent estimate is of the annual cost to the NHS of cardiovascular disease.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to the NHS has been of hospital inpatient care for patients aged 60 and over in each year since 2000, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions there have been of people aged 65 and over in Dundee as a result of falls in each of the last three years for which information is available, broken down by intermediate geographical zone, also expressed as a rate per 1,000 of population.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Table 1. Number of Hospital Admissions for Patients Aged 65 and Over in Dundee as a Result of a Falls1 for Financial Years 2007-08 to 2009-10

  

Intermediate Geographical Zone
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10P


Episodes
Rate per 1,000 Population
Episodes
Rate per 1,000 Population
Episodes
Rate per 1,000 Population


Ardler and St Marys
20
20.0
14
14.2
24
23.9


Balgay
10
10.4
17
17.7
11
11.6


Barnhill
26
20.5
23
18.0
31
23.6


Baxter Park
7
12.6
7
12.7
4
7.0


Broughty Ferry East
17
18.8
11
11.7
13
13.8


Broughty Ferry West
30
22.1
25
18.0
28
20.0


Caird Park
3
6.4
7
14.8
8
16.8


Charleston
9
12.2
15
21.1
7
10.2


City Centre
17
33.3
8
16.0
4
7.9


Craigie and Craigiebank
30
22.0
32
24.0
39
30.4


Docks and Wellgate
19
30.6
13
21.2
14
23.8


Douglas East
12
17.9
14
21.8
10
15.7


Douglas West
12
16.3
13
17.7
11
15.2


Downfield
17
17.3
10
10.0
9
9.0


Fairmuir
15
13.6
25
23.2
18
16.5


Fintry
13
16.3
19
23.1
18
21.4


Hilltown
28
25.9
21
19.5
15
13.8


Kirkton
9
19.0
9
18.1
8
15.5


Law
26
22.0
29
25.3
26
23.6


Linlathen and Midcraigie
22
32.2
22
30.8
12
16.6


Lochee
33
27.2
22
18.3
26
22.2


Logie and Blackness
26
29.1
22
25.6
9
11.0


Menzieshill
18
20.4
22
25.4
17
20.4


Perth Road
6
15.3
8
20.2
12
31.4


Stobswell
6
12.3
15
30.5
11
22.5


The Glens
28
26.5
15
14.8
23
23.0


West Ferry
20
20.8
12
12.1
18
18.0


West Pitkerro
3
8.4
6
15.4
4
9.7


Westend
18
18.5
15
15.6
11
11.5


Western Edge
10
27.2
7
18.3
13
30.8


Whitfield
8
12.2
10
15.3
12
17.8



  P2009-10 Data is provisional.

  Source: Information Services Division Scotland, Scottish Morbidity Record Scheme 01 (SMR01), General Register Office for Scotland population estimates.

  Note: 1. A fall is defined as International Classification Disease 10 (ICD-10) codes W00 – W19 in any diagnosis position.

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions there have been of people aged 65 and over in Angus as a result of falls in each of the last three years for which information is available, broken down by intermediate geographical zone, also expressed as a rate per 1,000 of population.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Table 1. Number of Hospital Admissions for Patients Aged 65 and over in Angus as a Result of a Falls1 for Financial Years 2007-08 to 2009-10.

  

Intermediate Geographical Zone
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10P


Episodes
Rate per 1,000 population
Episodes
Rate per 1,000 population
Episodes
Rate per 1,000 population


Monifieth West
11
17.4
8
12.3
8
12.2


Monifieth East
28
23.1
28
22.6
24
19.0


Carnoustie West
13
16.9
8
10.2
7
8.6


Carnoustie East
26
22.9
19
16.5
23
19.4


Monikie
5
8.9
6
9.7
*
*


South Angus
8
8.0
7
6.9
14
13.3


Arbroath Keptie
18
19.9
10
10.9
11
12.0


Arbroath Harbour
21
22.3
34
35.3
30
31.7


Arbroath Kirkton
22
23.7
14
14.9
18
18.2


Arbroath Cliffburn
15
18.6
14
17.5
10
12.1


Arbroath Warddykes
10
15.3
13
18.9
4
5.7


Letham and Glamis
7
7.3
14
13.9
8
7.6


Kirriemuir Landward
11
20.3
9
15.9
12
21.4


Forfar West
21
21.7
18
18.6
11
11.1


Forfar Central
17
18.0
14
14.8
15
15.7


Forfar East
23
25.9
20
22.9
13
14.6


Lunan
8
16.9
5
10.6
7
14.4


Friockheim
19
17.8
14
12.6
9
7.9


Kirriemuir
14
11.6
25
20.0
14
11.0


Montrose South
34
31.5
19
17.5
29
27.1


Montrose North
17
19.1
17
19.2
15
16.8


Brechin East
10
18.0
11
19.1
12
21.2


Brechin West
18
22.2
16
19.3
12
13.8


Hillside
6
12.2
3
5.8
3
5.5


Angus Glens
11
16.9
10
14.8
18
26.7



  P2009-10 Data is provisional.

  Source: Information Services Division Scotland, Scottish Morbidity Record Scheme 01 (SMR01), General Register Office for Scotland population estimates.

  Notes:

  1. A fall is defined as International Classification Disease 10 (ICD-10) codes W00 – W19 in any diagnosis position.

  * Indicates values that have been suppressed due to the potential risk of disclosure.

Hedges

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to its consultation on high hedges and whether it intends to bring forward draft legislation.

Fergus Ewing: I informed elected members of the progress made so far, and outlined proposed next steps, at a briefing session which I held in Parliament on 16 September 2010.

  A minute of the briefing will be made available shortly, once it has been finalised.

Higher Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of students withdrew from (i) HNC and (ii) HND courses before completion in each of the last five years.

Keith Brown: This is a matter for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). This information is not held centrally.

  HESA produce performance indicators for UK higher education institutions which include non-continuation rates, though these are not broken down to the level of detail required to answer this question. The HESA performance indicators can be accessed at the following web address:

  http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php/content/category/2/32/141/.

  SFC calculate retention rates as part of their college performance indicators, again not at the level required to answer this question. SFC performance indicators can be accessed at the following web address:

  http://www.sfc.ac.uk/statistics/further_education_statistics/FE_performance_indicators/FE_student_staff_PIs.aspx.

Higher Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what amount of college weighted student units of measurement (WSUM) were funded in terms of teaching grant in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.

Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and I will ask the Chief Executive to write to the member

Higher Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on college teaching funding in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.

Keith Brown: Decisions on the allocation of resources to colleges, including the amount distributed as teaching funding, are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member.

Higher Education

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) school leavers and (b) adult returners in Glasgow Baillieston enrolled at the University of (a) St Andrews, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Aberdeen and (d) Glasgow and what the total number of enrolled students was in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.

Keith Brown: Table 2 in the statistical publication Students in Higher Education at Scottish Institutions 2008-09 shows the number of enrolments at each Scottish higher education institution for academic years 2007-08 and 2008-09. Enrolment data for the academic year 2009-10 will not be available until January 2011. However, Information identifying school leavers and adult returners by parliamentary constituency is not held centrally. The aforementioned publication can be accessed at the following web address. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/03/18144043/0 .

Justice

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken in response to the Mental Welfare Commission’s report from their investigation into the care and treatment of Mrs I.

Fergus Ewing: The MWC’s recommendations addressed to the Scottish Government were to review the roles of welfare attorneys, in particular, to address:

  The information and guidance available for welfare attorneys;

  Support for them in undertaking their duties;

  Their authority to act where the adult resists, and

  Their interface with the named person.

  The Scottish Government already produces a Code of Practice for Continuing and Welfare Attorneys, this can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/19074726/0.

  We will consider at one of our regular meetings with the Mental Welfare Commission and the Office of the Public Guardian what more can be done to draw attention to the code.

Justice

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes were recorded in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2009-10, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: Crimes 1 recorded by the police in 2006-07 and in 2009-10:

  

Local Authority Area
2006-07
2009-10


Aberdeen City
23,322
18,729


Aberdeenshire
10,527
8,088


Angus
6,099
4,872


Argyll and Bute
5,303
4,133


Clackmannanshire
4,932
3,273


Dumfries and Galloway
9,547
6,897


Dundee City
15,512
11,924


East Ayrshire
8,544
7,967


East Dunbartonshire
4,874
4,047


East Lothian
5,232
4,643


East Renfrewshire
4,164
3,120


Edinburgh, City of
48,385
39,867


Eilean Siar 
1,125
642


Falkirk
10,148
8,046


Fife
30,304
21,120


Glasgow City
75,387
61,165


Highland
14,872
12,120


Inverclyde
7,040
5,521


Midlothian
6,325
5,246


Moray
5,900
4,103


North Ayrshire
9,871
9,313


North Lanarkshire
26,157
23,422


Orkney Islands
497
543


Perth and Kinross
7,634
5,963


Renfrewshire
14,672
11,603


Scottish Borders
5,402
4,065


Shetland Islands
782
847


South Ayrshire
7,531
5,688


South Lanarkshire
20,969
17,271


Stirling
6,150
5,083


West Dunbartonshire
9,160
7,585


West Lothian
12,890
11,122


Scotland
419,257
338,028



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Note: 1. Crimes include the categories Non-sexual crimes of violence, Crimes of indecency, Crimes of dishonesty, Fire-raising, vandalism etc. and Other crimes.

Marine Environment

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the implementation of a ban on ship-to-ship transfers of oil in UK territorial waters.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government wrote to the UK Government on 23 August 2010 about the review of new regulations to control ship-to-ship transfers which was announced on 8 July 2010. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51560).

Ministerial Visits

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the travel arrangements are for the First Minister’s visits to the Maldives and Delhi; how many officials will accompany him, and what the total estimated cost is.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-33436.

John Swinney: As the next host nation of the Commonwealth Games, Scotland is required and proud to take part in the official handover ceremony at the Games in Delhi. The First Minister and the Minister for Public Health and Sport will each attend part of the 2010 Games as representatives of a competing nation and to support our athletes, explore economic opportunities in India and to prepare Scotland to host the Games in Glasgow 2014.

  Ministers are attending the event as guests of the Commonwealth Games Federation and the organisers of the Delhi Games. The details of the programme and ministerial support are still being finalised but we are working to ensure the best value for money and that numbers are either comparable or less than the delegation which attended the 2006 Melbourne Games.

  There are no plans for either ministers or officials to visit the Maldives. The visit was originally mooted as a reciprocal arrangement with the government of Maldives after a visit to Scotland, but their visit was postponed at the time of the volcanic ash disruption, and didn’t take place over the summer during the process of resignation and reappointment of the Maldives Cabinet. Scottish/Maldives climate change co-operation is making substantial progress, and we expect to announce a joint marine energy initiative in the very near future.

Ministerial Visits

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have visited the Raploch area in Stirling since May 2007 and on what dates.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51764).

NHS Complaints

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were made about the NHS in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: In 2009-10 a total of 11,644 complaints were made about NHS in Scotland. Please see breakdown of this total by geographical health board area in the following table.

  NHSScotland Complaints - by Health Board, 2009-10P

  

 
Hospital and Community Health Services1
Family Health Services2,3,P
Special Boards
TotalP


All organisations
7,123
3,515
1,006
11,644


Ayrshire and Arran
 
 
 
 


Borders
 418
 224
 
 642


Dumfries and Galloway 
 137
 104
 
 241


Fife
 211
 133
 
 344


Forth Valley
 372
 307
 
 679


Grampian
 356
 160
 
 516


Greater Glasgow and Clyde 
1,052
 588
 
1 640


Highland4 
1,686
 818
 
2 504


Lanarkshire
 339
 169
 
 508


Lothian
 672
 81
 
 753


Orkney
1,157
 857
 
2 014


Shetland
 18
 13
 
 31


Tayside
 36
 1
 
 37


Western Isles
 626
 38
 
 664


NHS Special Boards, National & Support Organisations & the Scottish Health Council 
 43
 22
 
 65


The National Waiting Times Centre
 
 
 
 


The State Hospitals Board for Scotland
 
 
 55
 55


Scottish Ambulance Service
 
 
 66
 66


NHS24
 
 
 477
 477


NHS Education for Scotland (NES)
 
 
 112
 112


NHS Health Scotland
 
 
-
-


NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS)
 
 
 8
 8


Scottish Health Council (QIS)
 
 
 4
 4


NHS National Services Scotland (NSS)
 
 
-
-


Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service - Blood Donors (NSS)
 
 
 284
 284



  PData is provisional.

  Source: ISD(Scotland) NHS Complaints.

  Notes:

  1. Includes complaints where response date is not known.

  2. Family Health Services figures for NHS Highland have been estimated based on the average for the last available two years.

  3. Excludes pharmaceutical/ophthalmic complaints.

NHS Complaints

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were made about NHS hospital and community services in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: In 2009-10 a total of 7,123 complaints were made about NHSScotland Hospital and Community Health Services. See table in S3W-36374 answered on 29 September 2010 to see a breakdown of this total by geographical health board. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

NHS Complaints

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were made about NHS 24 in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: In 2009-10 a total of 112 complaints were made about NHS24.

  As NHS24 is a Special NHS Board in its own right, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of this total by geographical health board area.

NHS Complaints

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were made about NHS family health services in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: In 2009-10 it was estimated that a total of 3,515 complaints were made about NHSScotland Family Health Services.

  See table in S3W-36374 answered on 29 September 2010 to see a breakdown of this total by geographical health board area. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Ophthalmic Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have visited Stirling district since 2007; on what dates, and for what purpose.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51765).

Ophthalmic Services

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what ministerial visits there have been to the South of Scotland region since May 2007, broken down by (a) year, (b) constituency, and (c) minister.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51763).

Ophthalmic Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote the development of eye care managed clinical networks encompassing NHS optometrists and voluntary organisations either in every NHS board area or on a more regional basis.

Shona Robison: Officials have had discussions with the Scottish Eyecare Group which represents optometrists and ophthalmologists about the possible development of eye care managed clinical networks.

Ophthalmic Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with RNIB, Optometry Scotland and other stakeholders in reviewing and promoting new ways of working, including contracts with optometrists to ensure the most cost-effective and patient-friendly follow-up of people with diabetes, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Shona Robison: Officials met with RNIB on 23 September and I met with Optometry Scotland on 27 September to discuss further developments of eye care services in the community, including further services which might be undertaken by optometrists. I also announced on 27 September the roll out of IT links between optometrists and the hospital eye service which should further improve services for patients in Scotland.

Ophthalmic Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it is setting the NHS in respect of sight loss.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has endorsed the Scottish Vision Strategy which includes a strategic objective to eliminate avoidable sight loss and deliver excellent support to those with a visual impairment.

  In addition, the new General Ophthalmic Services arrangements (GOS), which deliver universally free eye examinations, include significant contributions towards the elimination of avoidable sight loss.

Police

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice will next meet the Scottish Police Services Authority board and what issues will be discussed.

Kenny MacAskill: I have no meetings arranged with the SPSA Board.

Procurement

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what payments (a) Scottish Futures Trust, (b) Skills Development Scotland and (c) Scottish Enterprise have made to consultants from 1 October 2009, Broken down by (i) individual consultancy firm, (ii) amount paid and (iii) date of payment.

John Swinney: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Futures Trust, Skills Development Scotland and Scottish Enterprise.

  I will ask the chief executive of each body to write to you with this information.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the 36 completed applications to the Scotland Rural Development Programme Community Services and Facilities support programme that have been redirected to other funding sources.

Richard Lochhead: On 3 August, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment Richard Lochhead announced changes to the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). This included the transfer of Community Services and Facilities (CSF) projects from the Rural Priorities (RP) to the LEADER element of the SRDP.

  There were 36 active CSF projects which were not able to progress under RP, but which can now be considered under LEADER. However, the details of these projects cannot be publically disclosed now, as they were submitted commercially in confidence. It is only when such applications have been approved for SRDP funding that it is reasonable and entirely legitimate that the public know how these funds are being distributed.

Schools

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools that have been closed, including nursery schools, since May 2007.

Keith Brown: The decision to close a publicly funded school is entirely a matter for the relevant local authority within the legislative framework.

  Information is routinely published on changes to the school estate which local authorities have chosen to make. This can be found viewed at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/openingsnarrative07.

Scottish Ambulance Service

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were made about the Scottish Ambulance Service in 2009-10, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: In 2009-10 a total of 477 complaints were made about the Scottish Ambulance Service.

  As the Scottish Ambulance Service is a Special NHS Board in its own right, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of this total by geographical health board area.

Scottish Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of the production of the Independent Budget Review, also broken down by individual budget heading including payments to individuals and printing and publication.

John Swinney: The total cost of the production of the Independent Budget Review, including printing and publication, was as follows:

  

 
£


a. Panel members’ expenses
2,000


b. Costs of design, printing, publication and media support
20,400


c. Launch, 29 July 2010
1,000


d. Total
23,400



  Note: final costs have yet to be processed, and the figures provided represent a best estimate as at the date of this answer.

  Members of the panel received no remuneration for their work between February and July 2010, when the panel’s report was published. However, reasonable expenses were met. These were modest. As can be seen from the table above, over 90% of the costs associated with the panel arose from the external work necessary to prepare the report for publication, to make it readily accessible, and to support communication of the report as widely as possible.

  The Scottish Government believes that the modest costs associated with the work of the panel represent value for money.

  I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35646 on 26 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx

Student Finance

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was invested in student support for further education students in each of the last five years and what the year-on-year change was in real terms in each year.

Keith Brown: The following table details the amounts invested in student support from 2006-07 to 2010-11 including the real terms change in each year. A comparison of initial allocations to student support over the last five years shows an increase, in real terms, of over 12%.

  

Year
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11


Initial Allocation
£67.2 million
£69 million
£72.3 million
£79 million
£83.8 million


Initial Allocation Real Terms (2010-11 Prices)
£74.3 million
£74.1 million 
£75.6 million
£81.4 million
£83.8 million


Annual Real Terms Change
-
-£134,505
£1.4 million
£5.8 million
£2.4 million


Annual Real Terms % Change
 
-0.20%
2.00%
7.60%
3.00%


Total Following In-Year Distribution
£71.3 million
£75.3 million
£82.7 million
£90.9 million
-


Total Following In-Year Distribution Real Terms (2010-11 Prices)
£78.8 million
£80.9 million
£86.5 million
£93.6 million
-


Annual Real Terms Change
-
£2.1 million
£5.6 million
£7.2 million
-


Annual Real Terms % Change
 
2.70%
6.90%
8.30%
-



  Note: figures adjusted for inflation using HMT GDP Deflators dated 12 July 2010.

Taxation

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated or estimated by how much Scotland’s receipts from (a) corporation tax including from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (b) corporation tax excluding from the North Sea oil and gas industry, (c) capital gains tax, (d) national insurance contributions and (e) VAT have changed since the start of the last spending review and whether this information is publicly available.

John Swinney: Estimates of the tax revenue raised in Scotland are available in Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) 2008-09. The report is available from:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/22160331/0.

Taxation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive  whether it has given consideration to raising funds by using its powers to vary income tax by up to 3p in the pound and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

John Swinney: We made it clear at the outset of this administration that we did not intend to use the tax-varying powers available under the Scotland Act. This was made clear to the Scottish Parliament and to the UK Government in 2007 and has remained our consistent position since. This government believes that Scotland needs the full range of economic levers, including powers relating to taxation and borrowing, to enable us to help the Scottish economy to grow.